Cadence of Conflict: Asia, June 29, 2015

China’s economy is tanking if you look at sales reports, or, no, wait, it’s going up if you ask the Chinese. China is also losing in the battle for Vietnam’s alliance: Moscow is now buddy-buddy with Hanoi.

Taiwan’s internal politics are all over the map with a presidential election schedule running near-parallel to the US 2016 election. Both countries look like they will elect a leader that wants to “deal smart” with China—against Beijing’s de facto policy of demanding that the world allow itself to be annexed by Beijing. Beijing has already rejected what looms in 2016 like a slave owner rejecting a slave’s desire to “normalize relations”.

Speaking of slavery, China is now an expert on human rights, lecturing the US. It is almost comedic, not because of the gross difference in numbers, but because China has so consistently told the US that countries should mind their own business. It seems Beijing has reversed that precedent with a new one.

Top Articles

Americans favor the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but not as much as everyone else

Why the bear is back in Vietnam – Russia assisting Vietnam in South China Sea dispute

…Russia is on the scene.

China

China has issued a scathing report on human rights abuses in the United States

Western companies are being forced to figure China out all over again

…China’s economy is slowing down, luxury brands have to cut costs, BMW profits down. But wait, a large Chinese company founder doesn’t want you to believe that…

China share market yet to hit its peak, says Lenovo founder Liu Chuanzhi

Taiwan

McDonald’s to sell local branches

…McD’s to dump ownership of their corporate-owned locations in Taiwan to franchisees.

KMTitanic 13: Hung over an Abyss

…More Taiwan politics

The Latest From Hung

…More Taiwan political antics and humor

DPP calls for KMT clarity on its cross-strait policy

…Turning tables